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Chapter 120

A knock came at the door.

"Yes, come in."

At Emilia's reply, Kayden opened the door and entered as expected.

Just as he had done every day for the past several days, he carried a tray with medicine.

Seeing Emilia seated at the desk, he frowned slightly.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, I was just looking over some documents I hadn't been able to check."

Emilia looked up and answered.

Quite a few documents related to the territories and mines he'd transferred to her had piled up.

"..."

Kayden watched her silently for a moment, then set the tray down on the desk.

He gently pulled back the chair she was sitting on.

"...?"

Just as Emilia looked up at him in puzzlement—

Kayden lifted her into his arms with practiced ease.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

Emilia asked, flustered, but he walked without a word.

He carefully laid her down on the bed and spoke.

"It's late—you should take your medicine and rest for today."

Then he retrieved the tray from the desk and sat on the simple chair.

The entire sequence was remarkably smooth.

Emilia, sitting on the bed, narrowed her eyes.

"I'm really fine now—I don't need to take the medicine anymore. And you don't have to keep bringing it to me like this."

I only asked you to stay with me that one night.

But somehow, Kayden had interpreted her words differently and had stayed by her side every day since.

He'd also taken it upon himself to bring her medicine, as if it were his duty.

It wasn't that she disliked his attention.

In fact, she'd come to look forward to his visits, always carrying the medicine.

And she'd never received such devoted care before.

But now that she was fully recovered, she couldn't keep putting him to the trouble.

More than that, she felt she shouldn't keep accepting his care.

No—the truth was, she was afraid of growing too used to his attention, only to feel even lonelier later.

When Kayden had been away from the residence last night, she'd felt an inexplicable emptiness.

That was when she realized just how much she'd come to rely on him.

But I can't keep doing this.

Emilia chided herself and lightly bit her lip.

Meanwhile, Kayden, clearly displeased by her refusal, said.

"Then just take it for today."

"Alright."

At his compromise, Emilia reluctantly accepted the medicine he offered.

Seeing her take it, Kayden's expression softened slightly.

Emilia, still tasting the bitterness in her mouth, spoke.

"Oh, the Marquess and Marchioness of Eberwine came by yesterday."

In fact, they hadn't just visited—they'd stayed overnight and only left that afternoon.

"I know."

Kayden answered casually.

After all, he was the one who'd sent word to them.

He'd deliberately invited them so Emilia wouldn't be alone while he was away.

He'd even instructed the butler to encourage them to stay the night.

"But the Marchioness told me something strange."

"Strange?"

"Well..."

Emilia hesitated, then explained.

"She said there are rumors going around that Kayden is some kind of devoted lover—that you've lost your mind over me..."

Since she'd been bedridden, she'd had no way of hearing social gossip, so she'd been completely unaware.

It was only when the Marchioness told her that she learned such rumors were circulating.

"Because of me, you..."

Emilia murmured guiltily, and Kayden's brow furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

"Those rumors spread just because you went to the ball with me..."

She'd never imagined that simply attending a ball together would lead to such exaggerated gossip.

The thought weighed heavily on her.

She also regretted having made such a request in the first place.

Just then, Kayden let out a deep sigh.

"...Those rumors."

He continued a beat later.

"Didn't start because of you."

"Huh?"

Emilia looked at him in puzzlement, and Kayden, wearing a reluctant expression, finally confessed what had happened that day.

By the time he finished, Emilia's face was bright red.

"How could you do something so absurd...!"

"I learned it all from you."

Kayden replied flatly, and Emilia fell silent.

She couldn't deny it.

After all, she'd used that very method to evade the assassins on the train.

Still, wasn't there a time and place for such things?

Back then, they'd been dealing with assassins—but the nobles at the ball were people they'd continue to encounter.

Still, she couldn't really blame Kayden.

After all, he'd done it to save her.

Emilia's lips moved for a long moment before she finally bowed her head.

"...So that's where those rumors came from."

She'd thought it strange.

Many couples had attended the Founding Festival ball, yet rumors about her and Kayden had spread so prominently.

At least it had prevented her from being entangled in a scandal with Cedric.

"Sigh..."

Emilia covered her face with her hands and let out a deep sigh, much like Kayden had just done.

Just what had Kayden done to make the young ladies spread such rumors?

But asking further would only embarrass her more, so she decided to stop there.

Instead, she said in a small voice.

"I'm sorry—because of me."

"Why should you be sorry?"

Kayden's brow furrowed again.

"And wasn't it you who said I didn't need to feel guilty about that day?"

He asked, as if he couldn't understand, and Emilia lowered her hands to meet his eyes carefully.

"No. This is... it's more like I'm sorry for your future."

At his still-puzzled expression, Emilia chose her words carefully.

"After we divorce... when you meet someone else, won't this make things difficult for you?"

With such widespread rumors, his future marriage prospects would surely suffer.

As she said it, her heart ached—but she suppressed the feeling.

She thought of Kayden, who had stayed by her bedside every day without complaint.

He's such a good person.

She truly didn't want to hinder his future like this.

Just as she was bowing her head, overcome with guilt—

"It's fine."

A flat, calm voice fell from above.

But Emilia couldn't easily accept it.

"Even if it's fine now..."

"No. It won't matter in the future either. I have no intention of marrying anyone else anyway."

"...Pardon?"

She looked up at him in bewilderment.

Kayden met her gaze and spoke slowly.

"Because I have no intention of marrying anyone but you."

Emilia couldn't process his words immediately and just blinked blankly.

Letting out a low laugh, Kayden slowly rose.

Without taking his eyes off her, he spoke in a low voice.

"So that I won't be divorced—"

He gently cradled her head and pressed his lips to her forehead.

After a lingering moment, his lips parted and he leaned back.

"I'll do better from now on."

"Wh-what..."

Only then did the frozen Emilia startle and stammer.

But Kayden continued, unfazed by her flustered reaction.

"And—thank you for taking back what I said about divorce that day."

He paused, looking at her even redder face, and smiled mischievously.

"I'm truly grateful."

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